Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography/Iabadius

by William Smith

IABA′DIUS (Ἰαβαδίον νῆσος, Ptol. vii. 2. § 29, viii. 27. § 10), an island off the lower half of the Golden Chersonesus. It is said by Ptolemy to mean the "Island of Barley," to have been very fertile in grain and gold, and to have had a metropolis called Argyre. There can be little doubt that it is the same as the present Java, which also signifies "barley." Humboldt, on the other hand, considers it to be Sumatra (Kritische Unters. i. p. 64); and Mannert, the small island of Banca, on the SE. side of Suviutra. [ V. ]